Savor (19 page)

“It’s a start. We can continue getting to know each other before we, uh, seal the deal.” And I was already positive Vera was going to run before that happened.

“She can’t just choose you as her mate. She has to take you as her mate.”

“Yeah, not likely.” I blinked a few times. Were they crazy? There’s no way Vera and I were doing that.

“So quick to back out? What about your mother? Protecting The Society? Vera…”

“I like your daughter, Taliana. I want to find my mom, and I’m sworn to protect The Society, but that doesn’t mean I can mate for life with someone just like that. Besides, why the rush? Can’t it wait?”

“Vera won’t be safe until she takes a mate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Vera is very desirable to a lot of people.”

“Yes, I get that.” She was beyond desirable to me.

“I don’t mean it in that way. We want her to pick a mate by choice, but others don’t believe in choice. If the wrong person finds her they may take matters into their own hands.”

“And force her hand to take over Norco?” I seethed, although my anger was at the invisible enemy and not Taliana.

“They’ll use her to do more than take over Norco. Vera’s more important than she realizes. But I can’t explain everything to her yet. It’s too soon.” Taliana wrung her hands.

“What would have happened if Vera hadn’t come home?” I had a million questions swirling through my head.

“Gareth already had plans to bring her in himself.” She looked down.

“And that would have gone over well.”

“Wouldn’t it have?” She laughed. “I prefer the way it worked out.”

I put aside my other questions. I needed to take things one step at a time. “So what now? I petition for her and then Gareth fills me in?”

“May I tell you something else?”

“Sure. Information is a good thing.”

“I want you with Vera for more than her protection and gifts.”

“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow. She had my attention. “Is it because I’m a Pteron?” I regretted my words immediately. After everything with Robert, I was positive that wasn’t the case.

“This has as much to do with you being a Pteron as it does with Vera being an Ursus. I can see when two people will complement each other. I saw it with Casey and Toby, and I see it with you and Vera. You both need a partner who will challenge you, while also keeping you anchored. There’s so much power and passion in each of you that together the effect could be monumental.”

“Monumental? Giant wars to change the world? What is it with you guys and making everything so big?”

“We’re making it big because these things are important.”

“Do you really think I’m good for Vera?” I was trying to figure out how much of her words were out of desperation and how much were out of true feelings. I knew she cared about her daughter, so I doubted she was lying, but you really never know with people.

“I think you could be if you let yourself.”

“In other words you don’t believe in giving straight answers.”

“How do you feel about her?”

“Are we back to the love questions?”

“Not precisely. I don’t think you even know what love looks like.”

“I can’t mate with her.”

“Sure you can. I’m positive it won’t be too difficult of an experience for you.”

“Uh, not talking about the physical part, but now that you brought it up. Do Ursus follow the wolf rules?”

“Are you asking about the biting and sex?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you.”

“Don’t get embarrassed. “

“Easy for you to say.”

“This is a new experience. I never expected to see a Pteron so uncomfortable discussing sex.”

“Discussing sex with the mother of the girl in question.”

“So what’s it going to be? Are you going to put in your petition?”

“I don’t have a choice.” There was too much at stake: rescuing my mom, protecting Vera, and looking out for The Society. There was no way I could turn down Gareth’s request. Besides, I didn’t particularly want any bear taking my place.

“Of course you do. We always have a choice.”

“But I do still have one more question.”

“Yes?”

“What does one wear to a petition ceremony? I didn’t exactly pack anything nice.”

She laughed. “I’m sure I can take care of that.”

I
should have run. I should have left before it was too late. Why had I agreed to let my mom and Gareth parade me around like some sort of prize to be had? And in this? I looked down at my form fitting emerald green dress. I’d have normally never worn something so girly. Sure it showed off my curves in just the right way, but what was the point of that? I didn’t actually want attention.

“You need to calm down.” Mom watched me.

I continued to pace around the room. “Calm down? I’m about to face a whole crowd of random men who don’t know me but want the political power that would come from mating with me.”

“That’s not all they want you for honey. They are looking for someone to spend their life with.”

“But they don’t know me.”

“In this clan we go more with feel.” She ran her hand through her always perfect long brown hair.

“But they haven’t even met me, so how could they know how they feel?”

“They’ll all meet you tonight. There’s an introduction before the petitions, and remember you are the one in charge. You don’t have to choose anyone tonight.”

“Of course.” I stopped pacing long enough to stare down my mom. “Why on earth would I agree to mate with somebody?”

“Theoretically you might find someone you like.”

“Not a chance.” I was satisfied spending time with Jared. Just thinking about another night with him had my body warming.

“You never know.” She used my momentary break from pacing to mess with my hair. Despite the effort I put into taming it, it still fell in messy waves.

“My hair isn’t going to change anything.”

“Maybe not, but it can’t hurt.”

“I’m not interested in mating with a bear.”

“No. You’re interested in someone else,” she murmured under her breath.

“You better not mean—”

“I didn’t say anything.” She moved around to the front of me while she continued to use her fingers to fix my hair.

I rolled my eyes. “You need to get over that fascination.” Just because Jared and I were having fun didn’t mean anything real or lasting would develop between us. Neither of us wanted that. “When does this start anyway?”

“As soon as you’re ready.”

“There’s no set start time?”

“Nope. It’s all about you tonight, Vera.”

“Fabulous.” I sighed.

“You never enjoyed being the center of attention, although you liked to pretend you did.”

“Are you done analyzing me?”

“It’s not analyzing. I’m your mother, I know you.” She let go of my hair.

“But I don’t know you.” I didn’t want to get in a fight with her, but I was tired of dancing around the issue.

“Do you want to do this now?” She held her hands out in front of her as if in offering.

“No, we already agreed to look to the future.”

“That doesn’t mean I won’t explain myself to you. I did what I had to in order to protect you and Casey.”

If she was going there, I wouldn’t hold back. “You hid my true identity from me.”

“I thought it was best.”

“For me or Casey?”

Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry that you had to sacrifice to protect her, but if I’d left you here you’d have been at risk too.”

“You considered it? You considered leaving me behind?”

She sighed. “No. I couldn’t. The thought entered my mind, but I knew I couldn’t. I could never leave you.”

“But I had no trouble leaving you.”

“It’s easier for a child.”

“Not as easy as you think.” I’d spent many sleepless nights regretting my decision to leave with Murphy. A lot of my guilt and regret centered on Casey, but I knew I’d hurt my parents with my actions as well.

“I want to fix this, Vera. I want to fix
us
.” She took my hand.

“And you think pushing me to mate is going to help?”

“No.” She squeezed my hand. “No one’s pushing you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“But I still have to go out there.” I gestured to the door.

“You’ve done worse.”

“How do you know?”

“You spent months with Murphy. I’m sure you underwent more than a little public embarrassment.”

My time with Murphy’s pack was something I never wanted to think about. How I’d mistaken his feelings for anything resembling love was beyond me. “You admit this is embarrassing?”

“I went through it too… albeit not as the Chief’s daughter. This is worse. Your sister handled it.”

“I thought it got cut short.”

“It did, but she went out there and faced it. Casey hates attention even more than you.”

“Casey’s brave.” So much braver than I ever gave her credit for.

“So are you. Do this and it’s over. And who knows, you may be surprised.”

“I’m not going to fall madly in love with anyone.” Love was overrated anyway, and it definitely wasn’t something for me.

“Try to have fun. If nothing else this will be one of those stories you can tell your grandchildren.”

“I’m not having children, so there will be no grandchildren.”

“So you say now.” Mom winked.

“Casey will give you grandchildren. Hell, she’s probably already working on that now.”

“Vera.” Mom released my hand.

“Yes?”

“Don’t try to get me wrapped up in Casey. It doesn’t change that you are doing this.”

“What if I refused?” I smoothed out some nonexistent wrinkles in the emerald dress.

“Nothing would happen to you. Gareth and I would have a lot of explaining to do.”

“You already have explaining to do.”

“The sooner you get out there, the sooner it’s over, and the sooner I can fill you in.”